Tale of the Red Dragon Without Dragon’s Might
Chapter 269 - 265: Dividing the Spoils_2

Chapter 269: Chapter 265: Dividing the Spoils_2

If Tassera hadn’t warned everyone beforehand to be careful when dismantling the pyramid, that magnificent floor crafted by master artisans—gleaming gold forming the constellations, blue light stones carving the deep blue night, and silver embellishing comets, the moon, and other celestial bodies—might have been ruined.

The burial goods also included weapons and equipment: swords, shields, bows, and the like. Some were battle-ready, while others served ceremonial purposes and were exquisitely adorned. Sword hilts might be wrapped in gold and inlaid with gemstones, while shields bore symbols of strength and protection.

...

...

The Red Dragon covets all valuable items and can instantly appraise their worth. Salovis was sure that all those odds and ends added up to millions.

Even if her brother took a larger share, greedy as he was, the remaining spoils split three ways among the Three-headed Dragon would still net her about 150,000 to 200,000 Gold Coins.

She had worked tirelessly alongside the Githyanki, raiding and pillaging wherever possible. The big scores were unattainable, so they were left to pick off the scraps. Even splitting 80–20 on earnings, it would have taken countless years to earn that much treasure.

"What are you doing?" The Brass Dragon stood to the side, drooling.

"Just raided an underground city—that ancient fallen empire’s tomb located deep within the desert. Now we’re dividing the loot." Leon, ever the mischief-maker, spoke with a sly grin.

The Brass Dragon naturally knew about that tomb and remarked, "You mean the one guarded by the male-faced Sphinx?"

"Yes," said Leon. "We wanted to ask you to join us, but you seemed unwilling to go on adventures with the Colorful Dragons, so we didn’t call you."

"No, I love Colorful Dragons the most." The Brass Dragon’s eyes were glued to the piles of gold and jewels. "You’re all horrible! Raiding someone’s tomb... But finders are keepers; I gave you plenty of intel about that tomb. Logically, I deserve a share, too."

Feigning generosity, Leon said, "I don’t mind giving you a share—it’s just that others might disagree. You should ask everyone for their opinions. If they agree, you can take a portion."

"If you agree, everyone else will surely agree." The Brass Dragon tentatively extended a claw.

"Try touching it if you dare," Salovis snapped, fury in her voice.

The Brass Dragon immediately froze. Seeing no support from anyone, it sulked, muttering angrily, "I’m leaving... Don’t anyone try to stop me."

No one stopped it. Furious, the Brass Dragon stomped away, vowing not to return until those despicable beings were gone.

"Is this all there is?" Salovis paid no mind to the Brass Dragon’s departure. "What about the rest?"

"Where’s that large crystal—the Focusing Eye?" Salovis’ memory was exceptional. "And I found that Undead Book. Tassera said it’s at least a legendary magic item."

"No rush, the heavy-hitters come last." Leon pulled out the Focusing Eye and the Undead Book.

"I want the Focusing Eye," Salovis said, then noticed Leon looking at her. She forced a nervous laugh. "Of course, the Focusing Eye must go to my dear brother."

Ignoring his foolish sister, Leon turned to the Blue Dragon and asked, "Tassera, what’s the best way to deal with it? This thing seems like a powerful weapon... If you can use it, we’ll keep it and place it on the Volcanic Island for defense."

"I think it’s worth a try," Tassera said.

"Then it’s settled." Leon declared cheerfully. "Everyone’s lairs are on Volcanic Island. If the Focusing Eye can be utilized, it benefits us all."

"To properly utilize the Focusing Eye, we’d need to build a tall tower." Salovis, who had inherited practical knowledge from her lineage, seemed surprisingly competent for once. "That Bronze Dragon’s lair is also on Volcanic Island, so she’d benefit from it as well, even though she didn’t participate in the adventure... We have to make her pay a contribution."

"She’s stationed on the island, which is its own kind of effort." Leon had a favorable impression of the naive Bronze Dragon. "Don’t be overly calculating."

"Since my brother says so, I’ll let it slide this time." Salovis said, for once speaking words that pleased Leon.

"Now let’s deal with the Undead Book." Leon’s eyes sparkled with interest.

He noticed Tassera had shifted into her human form and was reaching for the book. "Be careful," he warned. "That book is radiating necromancy energy."

"It’s fine, just a bit of necromancy energy." Tassera said as she picked up the Death Spirit Book and then cast the identification technique.

Leon watched curiously and thought about how the game’s identification technique worked: you touch the object continuously while casting, and if it’s a magic item, you learn its properties, usage, and effects, including spells influencing it or used to create it. It even worked on living creatures.

His own Heavenly Eye Technique could merely perceive magical power and its types, as well as grant True Vision. A bit underwhelming by comparison.

Tassera held the Undead Book for about a minute before announcing, "This is the Necromantic Black Tome, a legendary artifact."

"Not a divine artifact?" Cecilia sounded disappointed.

"What are you thinking? Divine artifacts aren’t so easily obtained." Tassera rolled her eyes at Cecilia. "Do you even understand how dangerous divine artifacts are? I wouldn’t dare dream of owning one."

"A legendary artifact is already more than enough." Leon wasn’t greedy. Aside from the questionable Impermanence Card, he didn’t own a single legendary magic item. "Go on, what does it do?"

"To use the Necromantic Black Tome, you must first study and understand its contents," Tassera explained. "Once attuned, it enhances your spell accuracy and power, and it significantly boosts any necromancy school spells you cast."

"Additionally, you can use it to create mummies, dominate undead creatures, and even resurrect the dead, though resurrected individuals become undead." Tassera’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh, and you can use it to perform a ritual to transform someone into a Mummy Lord."

Leon nodded in satisfaction. "Impressive effects for a legendary artifact."

"If legendary artifacts are this formidable, divine artifacts must be beyond imagination," Leon remarked wistfully. When could he get his hands on one?

"I don’t know," Tassera mused. "They’d probably let you cast stronger spells, like Time Stop or Death Finger, and host rituals to create Death Knights or Witch Demons."

"Can I attune to this book?" Leon asked curiously.

"You don’t know any magic. That might be a bit tricky," Tassera replied. "Even for me, I’d need to study necromancy texts before attempting to attune."

Leon visibly deflated but quickly perked up again. He might not have use for it now, but there would come a time.

They continued splitting the loot. With the Focusing Eye and the Necromantic Black Tome excluded, Tassera took the books—she was the only one who could understand them. As for the rest, Leon generously took half for spearheading the endeavor, leaving the remainder to be split among the other Three-headed Dragons.

Meanwhile, the Brass Dragon, waiting outside for hours, returned to the castle to find that the loot division had ended. To his dismay, even a few of his statues stored in the castle had been claimed—Salovis had taken one or two. His anger knew no bounds.

While the Brass Dragon cursed them out, the group had already flown out of the desert. Driven by their longing for home, they returned to the Volcanic Island in less than half a day.

Leon did some quick math. With nearly a million Gold Coins in cash at hand, as long as he didn’t embark on ambitious volcanic renovations, there was no way he could spend it all... unless something unexpected happened.